Full Disclosure

The secrets of Ben and Jerry were revealed to me tonight. I know all. I saw all. They told me that if I tell you I have to kill you. Or maybe just give you a paper cut... but definitely one of those really bad ones in the webbing between your fingers (did you ever realize what a fun word webbing was? Try saying it... web-BING, WEBB-ing, oh just try it is fun. But don't do it too much or the world will lose all meaning).

Anyway, Lisa (I am so on a first name basis) told us to arrive in room M-07 of the Old Post Office Pavilion (OPOP) between 5:30 and 6. Now, I work right across the street, so I tried to stay at my desk, but it just didn't work, I am impatient. I arrived at OPOP at approximately 5:33. It was at this point I realized that while I was a dork did I really want to be the dork that shows up first? Twenty-five minutes early? No, no I did not (these were the cool kids I was meeting after all). So, instead I sat on a bench and played Bejeweled on my cell phone (best $5 ever), always keeping one eye out for other Chunk Spelunkers. I waited for two to go in and then I followed.

We ended up being a motley bunch, 9 Chunk Spelunkers, 1 mini-spelunker (someone brought their kid), and 5 Ben and Jerry's representatives (including two flavor gurus). Lead by Lucas (my future husband if her weren't already married), a BJ's consumer/marketing guy, we split into two groups. Both groups would be testing the same two products. Each group would also have a couple of BJ's people to ask questions and take notes. I just happened to end up at the same table as Luke (I swear I sat down first) and Michael and John (whom I recognized from the website), plus three more BJ's fans like myself.

After a quick round of introductions (I may have mentioned the multiple Vermonsters and the $234 Free Cone Day), it was onto the business at hand.

Product 1:
It started off with a short description my Luke and then a list of instructions. Yeah, you heard me, instructions to eat ice cream. This was not starting well. Here they are reproduced:

1. Roll container between hands for 5-10 seconds.
2. Remove lid.
3. Invert container on a plate.
4. Put your left leg in and shake it all about.
5. Press down in the center of the bottom of the container and pull the rest of the container off of the frozen dessert.
6. Remove disk from top of frozen dessert and enjoy. Sauce should now be freely flowing down the side of the dessert.

Basically it turned out to be a sundae. In our case it had a graham cracker crust, 1/2 pint of strawberry ice cream, and strawberry sauce. But, as we were told, flavor was not important, rather it was the concept they were most interested in.

Now personally, I found this not all that exciting. Good, although I didn't finish, but not unique. I thought it took too long to get into and was too large for one person, while maybe not large enough for two. I thought I might buy it one time for the novelty and then never again. Although I could also see this as neat things for picnics or BBQs. And I didn't think I would ever eat it by myself.

Others had a different opinions. Called it more of an ice cream cheesecake. They thought it would be a good alternative after a nice dinner party. And that this might be positioned against the more upscale Häagen-Dazs. And that they would eat this anytime, even all alone. Not to say they were wrong or anything (they totally were), just different (and wrong).

After a little more discussion we moved on.

Product 2:
We were presented with packages that reminded me of Astronaut Ice Cream. Again, Luke read us a short paragraph describing the product. This time instead of instructions, the description was more focused on health and breakfast.

Hmmm, ice cream for breakfast sounds really very healthy to me.

We all unwrapped and dug in. This time the flavor was more (as was later confirmed) like Dastardly Mash. While I don't think I ever tried the ice cream, I really enjoyed this incarnation. The concept and the execution of the particular flavor that we were trying. I told them I thought this would be a good brunch/late afternoon or 3AM snack, but I wasn't sure I could see myself eating it for breakfast. We were all pretty much in agreement here. We suggested maybe to get more of that "it really is good for you" feeling they should team up with Nature Valley or Nutrigrain.

I think I was the only one that really liked this product though. And in the end, even I didn't vote for it when they asked which we thought they should go forward with production (not that they would take my word). I just think that convincing us that ice cream is healthy and we can eat if for breakfast might still be a little too out there even in this day and age.

Finally, my belly full of ice cream and a smile on my face I picked up my box o' free stuff and made my way home. I was going to try to wait until I got home to open the box with the roommates, but I just couldn't wait and I snuck a peak on the metro (good thing too since basically no one was home when I got there). For my troubles I got a thermal latte mug, a pint cozy, a pint lock, a key chain, coupons, and a pencil.

All in all it was awesome and I would do it again anytime they want me. Especially if Luke has gotten a divorce by that point.